Interspecific tree named &#39;Latesweet XXI&#39;

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an interspecific tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a small size, moderately vigorous, hardy, and very productive tree. Being self-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from an apricot, interspecific, or plum that blooms during the mid to late season. The present variety produces a very heavy bloom with an abundant amount of pollen to entice good bee activity to facilitate pollination. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during the first week of November, with first picking on Nov. 2, 2011. The fruit is uniformly medium in size, very deep red in skin color, clingstone in type, globose to slightly oblong in shape, yellow in flesh color, firm in texture, and excellent in flavor.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Prunus sp.

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘LATESWEET XXI’

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, I, theinventor, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum,apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. I also grow a lesser number ofopen pollinated seeds of each of these fruits. The present inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of interspecific tree which hasbeen denominated varietally as ‘LATESWEET XXI’.

During a typical blooming season I isolate as seed parents bothindividual and groups of different plum trees by covering them withscreen houses. A hive of bees is placed inside each such house, andbouquets to provide pollen from different plum, apricot, andinterspecific hybrid trees, are placed in buckets near the treesapproximately every two days for the duration of the bloom. During 2005one such house containing a ‘September Yummy®’ plum tree (U.S. PlantPat. No. 14,220) was crossed by me in this manner. To pollinate thisplum tree, I selected bouquets from several sources of apricot andinterspecific hybrid trees without keeping specific written details.Upon reaching maturity the fruit from this plum tree was harvested andthe seeds were removed, cracked, stratified and germinated as a groupwith the label “H12”. They were grown as seedlings on their own root inmy greenhouse and upon reaching dormancy transplanted to a cultivatedarea of my experimental orchard located near Le Grand, Calif. in MercedCounty (San Joaquin Valley). During the summer of 2008 the claimedvariety was selected by me as a single plant from the group of seedlingsdescribed above. Subsequent to origination of the present variety ofinterspecific tree, I asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting inthe experimental orchard described above, and such reproduction of plantand fruit characteristics were true to the original plant in allrespects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented) rootstock upon which the present variety wascompatible and true to type.

The present variety is similar to its seed parent, ‘September Yummy’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,220) plum, by being self-unfruitful and byproducing fruit that is juicy, firm in texture, full red to purple inskin color, and mostly yellow in flesh color, but is distinguishedtherefrom by producing fruit that is smaller in size, much sweeter inflavor, and that matures about fifty days later.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

The present interspecific variety is characterized by a small size,moderately vigorous, hardy, and very productive tree. Beingself-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from anapricot, interspecific, or plum that blooms during the mid to lateseason. The present variety produces a very heavy bloom with an abundantamount of pollen to entice good bee activity to facilitate pollination.The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during thefirst week of November, with first picking on Nov. 2, 2011. The fruit isuniformly medium in size, very deep red in skin color, clingstone intype, globose to slightly oblong in shape, yellow in flesh color, firmin texture, and excellent in flavor.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph consists of four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, two half fruitsdivided to reveal the flesh and stone, one cleaned stone, typicalleaves, and one inset depicting the blossoms as they appeared on thetree during the blooming season.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of interspecific tree, the following hasbeen observed under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif. The fruit description wasdeveloped at the picking ripe, Nov. 2, 2011, on the original tree duringits sixth growing season. The flower and bud descriptions were developedduring the previous blooming season. All major color code designationsare by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau ofStandards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

-   Parentage:    -   -   Seed parent.—‘September Yummy®’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            14,220).        -   Pollen parent.—Unknown.-   Tree:    -   -   Size.—Small, reaching and maintaining a height of 10′ [3.05            m.] and a spread of 5′ [1.52 m.] after six growing seasons            utilizing typical dormant pruning.        -   Vigor.—Medium vigor, responding typically to irrigation and            fertilization. The variety grows about 3′ [0.91 m.] of            surplus top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant            should be grown on a standard commercial rootstock for            production purposes.        -   Growth.—Upright and dense.        -   Form.—Pruned to a Perpendicular “V”.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to central California winters.        -   Heat tolerance.—Observed to perform adequately in typical            central California climatic conditions, which typically            include extended periods of heat.        -   Drought tolerance.—Variety is developed for commercial            orchards and requires regular irrigation.        -   Production.—Very productive, thinning usually necessary.        -   Fertility.—Self-unfruitful, requiring cross pollination by a            suitable mid to late seasonal blooming apricot,            interspecific or plum such as ‘Plumsweet IX’ interspecific            tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,666).        -   Bearing.—Regular bearing observed thus far, weather            dependent.        -   Trunk.—Size. — Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 3¼″            [82.6 mm.] after the sixth growing season. Texture. —            Shaggy. Bark Color. — A Strong brown [55. s.Br] and Dark            brown [59. d.Br] variegation with Light yellowish brown [76.            l.yBr] crevices present. Lenticels. — Approximate Number Per            Square Inch: 4. Color: Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr].            Average Size: ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. Shape: Eye-shaped, elongated.        -   Branches.—Size. — Diameter of Main scaffold is 1¼″ [31.8            mm.] measured 12″ above the first crotch, diameter of limb            is ¾″ [19.1 mm.] measured 12″ above first fork. Texture. —            Smooth on first and second year wood, increasing roughness            with age. Color. — 1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19.            gy.R]. 1st Year Wood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116.            brill.YG]. Older Wood: Dark yellowish brown [78. d.yBr] and            Grayish brown [61. gy.Br] variegation. Lenticels. — Number            Per Square Inch: About 80 on second year wood. Color: Light            yellowish brown [76. l.yBr]. Size: 1/64″ [0.4 mm.] to 1/16″            [1.6 mm.]. Shape: Eye-shaped, elongated.        -   Leaves.—Size. — Medium. Average Length: 3 5/16″ [84.2 mm.].            Average Width: 1⅜″ [34.9 mm.]. Arrangement. — Alternate.            Thickness. — Medium. Form. — Elliptical. Apex. — Acuminate.            Base. — Acute with an average angle base angle of 70            degrees. Surface. — Smooth. Color. — Dorsal Surface:            Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. Ventral Surface: Moderate            yellow green [120. m.YG]. Margin. — Finely serrate.            Venation. — Pinnately net veined. Petiole. — Average Length:            7/16″ [11.1 mm.]. Average Thickness: 1/16″ [1.6 mm.]. Color:            Strong yellow green [117. s.YG] with some Grayish red [19.            gy.R] areas where exposed to direct sunlight. Stipules. —            Number: Usually 2 per leaf, up to 6 per growing tip. Average            Length: ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. Color: Moderate yellowish brown [77.            m.yBr]. Glands. — Number: 1 to 4 per leaf, mostly 2.            Position: Mostly alternate, positioned at the intersection            of the petiole and the leaf blade. Size: Medium. Form:            Globose. Color: Light yellow green [119. l.YG] becoming Dark            yellowish brown [78. d.yBr] in the center with age. Leaf            buds. — Pointed, medium.        -   Flower buds.—Hardiness. — Hardy, with respect to central            California winters. Diameter. — Typically 3/16″ [4.8 mm.] 1            week before bloom. Length. — Typically ⅜″ [9.5 mm.] 1 week            before bloom. Form. — Not appressed. Surface. — Pubescent.            Tip Color. — White [263. White].        -   Flowers.—Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single            pistil, typically thirty or more stamens, five sepals and            petal locations alternately positioned. Average Flower            Diameter. — 1 1/16″ [27.0 mm.]. Number of Petals. — Five, no            double blossoms observed. Petal Shape. — Oval to circular.            Petal Margin. — Entire, quite wavy. Average Petal Diameter.            — ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Average Petal Length. — 9/16″ [14.3 mm.].            Petal Apex. — Rounded. Petal Base. — Obtuse. Petal Color. —            White [263. White] on both sides. Anther Color. — Moderate            orange [53. m.O] over a Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y]            center. Stigma Color. — Pale yellow [89. p.Y]. Sepal Color.            — Light yellow green [119. l.YG] on the outer surface with            Grayish pink [8. gy.Pk] toward the edges on some. Sepal            Length. — 3/16″ [4.8 mm.]. Sepal Width. — 5/32″ [4.0 mm.].            Sepal Apex. — Rounded to elliptical to match the width and            length. Sepal Margin. — Fairly smooth with slight serrations            toward the apex. Average Pistil Length. — 11/16″ [17.5 mm.].            Average Stamen Length. — ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Fragrance. —            Moderate. Bloom Density. — Very heavy. Number per cluster. —            2 to 10, average 5. Pollen Production. — Strong, good            enticement to bees. Blooming Period. — Mid to late, with            ‘Santa Rosa’ plum (unpatented). Onset of Bloom. — One            percent on Mar. 4, 2011. Date of Full Bloom. — Mar.            11, 2011. Duration of Bloom. — One to two weeks, dependent            on ambient temperature.-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity when described.—Picking ripe, Nov. 2, 2011.        -   Date of first picking.—Nov. 2, 2011.        -   Date of last picking.—Nov. 16, 2011.        -   Size.—Uniform, small to medium. Average Diameter Axially. —            2⅜″ [60.3 mm.]. Average Diameter Across Cheek Plane. — 2            5/16″ [58.7 mm.]. Average Diameter Across Suture Plane. — 2            5/16″ [58.7 mm.]. Typical Weight. — 4.0 ounces [113 grams].        -   Form.—Uniform, globose to slightly oblong, symmetrical.            Longitudinal Section Form. — Round to slightly oblong.            Transverse Section Through Axial Diameter. — Round.        -   Suture.—An inconspicuous line located in a shallow groove            extending from the base to the apex.        -   Ventral surface.—Slightly rounded, lipped toward the base on            both sides.        -   Lips.—Slightly unequal.        -   Cavity.—Flaring, elongated in the suture plane, suture            showing on one side. Depth. — 5/16″ [7.9 mm.]. Breadth. — ⅝″            [15.9 mm.].        -   Base.—Slightly truncate, somewhat cordate if viewed parallel            to the suture.        -   Apex.—Rounded, some with a slight hump.        -   Pistil point.—An inconspicuous Pale orange yellow [73. p.OY]            dot located at the end of the suture.        -   Stem.—Medium. Average Length. — 7/16″ [11.1 mm.]. Average            Width. — ⅛″ [3.2 mm.].        -   Skin.—Thickness. — Medium. Surface. — Smooth. Tenacity. —            Tenacious to the flesh. Astringency. — Nonastringent.            Tendency to Crack. — None observed in dry season. Color. —            Very deep red [14. v.deep R] over a Deep red [13. deep R]            background with a moderate amount of Light orange yellow            [70. l.OY] freckling throughout. Bloom. — Abundant.        -   Flesh.—Color. — Brilliant greenish yellow [98. brill.gY].            Surface of Pit Cavity. — Covered with Dark yellow [88. d.Y]            broken fibers when twisted away from stone. Amygdalin. —            Scarce. Juice. — Moderate, rich. Texture. — Firm, crisp,            meaty. Fibers. — Few, fine, tender. Ripens. — Slightly            earlier toward the apex. Flavor. — Sweet with slight acid,            typically 24 brix. Aroma. — Very slight. Eating Quality. —            Excellent.-   Stone:    -   -   Type.—Clingstone.        -   Form.—Oval.        -   Hilum.—Narrow.        -   Base.—Slightly cordate.        -   Apex.—Acute with a very sharp 1/16″ [1.6 mm.] tip.        -   Sides.—Equal.        -   Surface.—Rough throughout with a vertical ridge on each side            of the dorsal fin.        -   External color of stone.—Light olive brown [94. l.OlBr] when            dry.        -   Pit wall color when cracked.—Deep yellow [85. deep Y].        -   Cavity surface color.—Pale greenish yellow [104. p.gY].        -   Average pit wall thickness.—⅛″ [3.2 mm.]        -   Average width.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].        -   Average length.—1″ [25.4 mm.].        -   Average breadth.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].        -   Tendency to split.—None observed.        -   Kernel.—Form. — Oval. Skin Color. — Light olive brown [94.            l.OlBr]. Pellicle Color. — Moderate olive brown [95.            m.OlBr]. Vein Color. — Moderate olive brown [95. m.OlBr].            Taste. — Bitter. Viable. — Yes. Average Width. — ¼″ [6.4            mm.]. Average Length. — ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Amygdalin. — Scant.-   Use:    -   -   Market.—Fresh market and long distance shipping.        -   Keeping quality.—Good, fruit quality observed to remain in            good condition after 30 days in standard cold room at 36°            Fahrenheit [2° Celsius].        -   Shipping quality.—Good.        -   Resistance to insects.—No unusual susceptibilities noted.        -   Resistance to diseases.—No unusual susceptibilities noted.-   Other notes: Although the new variety of interspecific tree    possesses the described characteristics under the ecological    conditions at Le Grand, Calif., in the central part of the San    Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected that variations in these    characteristics may occur when farmed in areas with different    climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varying cultural    practices.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of interspecific Prunus sp. tree,substantially as illustrated and described, that is similar to its seedparent, ‘September Yummy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,220) plum, by beingself-unfruitful and by producing fruit that is juicy, firm in texture,full red to purple in skin color, and mostly yellow in flesh color, butis distinguished therefrom by producing fruit that is smaller in size,much sweeter in flavor, and that matures about fifty days later.